Jewish Schizophrenia in the Land of Israel

by Forman, David J.

• ISBN13: 9789652292612
• ISBN10: 9652292613
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Gefen Books

Summary

Carefully using the colloquial understanding of "schizophrenia," this intriguing book examines the inconsistencies, paradoxes, and divisiveness that characterizes Israeli society. As a father, Israeli-Reform rabbi, IDF Deputy Commander, and human rights activist, Forman's personal insights - combined with his sense of humor - offer one much to think about.

Author Biography

David Forman, is an internationally renowned human rights activist. Founder of Israeli Rabbis for Human Rights, he was awarded the prestigious Knesset Prize for "Peace, Tolerance and Democracy." He has served as a deputy-commander in the Israeli army, founded the Jerusalem Council for Soviet Jewry and lectured world wide on the role of religion in peace making. As a columnist for the Israeli English and Hebrew press, he was written extensively on social, religious and political issues. He lives with his family in Jerusalem

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	7	(4)
PART ONE: THE MACRO or ``You say Tomato, I say Tomahto''
Introduction	11	(10)
An Occupational Hazard	21	(21)
Delusions of Grandeur	21	(5)
A Moral Aphrodisiac	26	(3)
Transferring Blame	29	(4)
``A Bridge Over Troubled Waters''	33	(6)
``Cry Peace, Peace; where there is no Peace'' (Jeremiah 6:14)	39	(3)
Jerusalem of Gold (and other colors)	42	(20)
Open Your Gates	42	(3)
The Holy City of Three Faiths: A Prescription for Religious Harmony	45	(10)
The War of the Jews	55	(7)
Political Contradictions	62	(29)
Double-speak	62	(4)
The Culture of Language	66	(2)
``Baseless Hatred'' (Sinat Chinam)---The Deri Case Part I	68	(2)
``Baseless Hatred'' (Sinat Chinam)---The Deri Case Part II	70	(2)
Left versus Right	72	(5)
Political and Religious Divorce	77	(5)
Leadership and Accountability	82	(5)
For the Sake of Unity	87	(4)
The Holocaust	91	(16)
Faded and Distorted Memories	91	(7)
Freedom of or from (Racial) Expression	98	(4)
Hyperbole, Misuse and Abuse	102	(5)
Religion in Israel	107	(31)
Orthodoxy: The Only Game in Town	107	(4)
Look Forward to Yesterday	111	(2)
The ``God Squad''---Part I	113	(3)
the internet	113	(3)
The ``God Squad''---Part II	116	(9)
women: separate and unequal	116	(9)
The ``God Squad''---Part III	125	(2)
burn, baby, burn	125	(2)
The ``God Squad''---Part IV	127	(3)
you are what you eat	127	(3)
The ``God Squad''---Part V	130	(1)
they shoot horses, don't they	130	(1)
Mutual Respect and Compromise: A Therapy for Repair	131	(7)
Israel and Diaspora Jewry	138	(12)
Here, There and Everywhere	138	(4)
Israel as the Jewish People's Birthright	142	(8)
Holidays in Israel	150	(32)
An Annual Check-up	150	(5)
Rosh HaShana: The Holiday of Sacrifice---Israelis Missing in Action	155	(2)
Chanukah---The Maccabean Revolt	157	(4)
Who's Afraid of Christmas?	161	(3)
Keeping Purim in Perspective	164	(3)
Passover---The Longest Liberation Movement	167	(4)
The Nature of Independence	171	(11)
PART TWO: THE MICRO or ``You say Potato, I say Potahto''
Introduction II	177	(5)
Sex and The Married Politician	182	(10)
Bibi Versus Billy	182	(2)
Bibi's Boo-Boo	184	(3)
Bill Clinton for Prime Minister of Israel	187	(5)
Hell On Wheels	192	(15)
You're Driving Me Crazy	192	(3)
A Losing Battle	195	(3)
Driving by Numbers	198	(2)
Not the Gallup Poll, but the Gallop Poll	200	(4)
Til' Death Do Us Part	204	(3)
The People of The Book	207	(16)
A Brief Background	207	(2)
The Soaring Cost of ``Free Education''	209	(2)
School Overload: A Factory Approach to Education	211	(6)
``Three Strikes, You're Out''	217	(4)
A Brief Conclusion	221	(2)
Israel: The World's Scapegpoat	223	(6)
To Feel Good, Fault the Jews	223	(3)
Accentuate the Positive	226	(3)
A Collage	229	(24)
Life's Frustrations	229	(10)
confessions of an israeli red sox fan	229	(1)
theatre of the absurd: an aliya play in three acts	230	(4)
i can't get no satisfaction	234	(2)
smoke gets in your eyes	236	(1)
``boker tov, (good morning) eliyahu'' or: ``hello!''	237	(2)
Life's Inconsistencies	239	(2)
it's 9:00 a.m., do you now where your children are	239	(2)
Life's Absurdities	241	(4)
yitzhak rabin: the film---by oliver stone	241	(4)
Life's Hypocrisies	245	(2)
a human rights hoax	245	(2)
Life's Contradictions	247	(3)
from the sublime to the ridiculous	247	(3)
Life's Excitement	250	(3)
the wonder of israel	250	(3)
Epilogue	253